Storm Dana Brings Summer To Abrupt End

Madrid´s blazing summer came to an abrupt as record breaking torrential rains and storms swept the region over the weekend bringing widespread to the capital´s infrastructure.

Spain´s state meteorological agency, AEMET, issued a maximum red weather alert as Storm Dana hit the Madrid region yesterday, Saturday 2nd September.

The storm is expected to continue throughout today and tomorow morning and Madrid´s mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, advised all residents to stay at home.

For the first time the region´s 112 Emergency Services issues a mobile phone alert warning residents not to go outside or use vehicles as over 120 litres of rain is expected over the course of the day.

The 120 litres of rain per square metre falling easily breaks the more then 50 year record of rainfall in a day which was set in 1972 when 87 litres were recorded.

‘Due to the extreme risk of storms in Comunidad de Madrid today … do not use your vehicle if not strictly necessary and stay at home to receive further information,’ the alert said (see Tweet below).

Protección Civil ha enviado una alerta a los móviles de los ciudadanos de la Comunidad de Madrid informando de que la región se encuentra en el nivel 1 del Plan de Inundacioneshttps://t.co/UycS8FN6ua pic.twitter.com/Cj8FlCDjNw

— RTVE Noticias (@rtvenoticias) September 3, 2023

Almeida said that ” due to the exceptional and abnormal situation, in which rainfall records will be broken, I ask the people of Madrid to stay at home today,’ Almeida wrote on X.

Madrid´s metro faced severe disruption as three lines were closed.

Renfe announced that the high speed AVE service between Madrid and Valencia as well as other lines to Andalucia had been suspended.

03/09 18:01 #AEMET #FMA nivel rojo por lluvias para hoy en Cast-La Mancha y Comun. Madrid . Imagen en vigor a las 18:01 (tabla actualizada haciendo CLIC EN LA IMAGEN), o visite https://t.co/aIJV7DDYto https://t.co/x6QGjiiesu

— AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) September 3, 2023

The Spanish LIGA said it postponed Atletico Madrid’s home match at the Wanda Metropolitana against Sevilla due to the adverse weather.

Rain and thunder is expected to continue until tomorow afternoon.

The rest of the week is calmer with temperatures at a more seasonal mid to late 20s degrees.

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